Lieutenant-General (LG) Lim Chuan Poh relinquish his appointment as Chief of Defence Force on 1 Apr 2003, and that Major-General (MG) Ng Yat Chung, currently Chief of Army, be appointed the Chief of Defence Force with effect from 1 Apr 2003.

Major-General (MG) Ng Yat Chung relinquish his appointment as Chief of Army on 1 Apr 2003, and that Brigadier-General (BG) Desmond Kuek Bak Chye, currently Director Joint Intelligence Directorate and concurrently Chief of Staff (General Staff), be appointed Chief of Army with effect from 1 Apr 2003, and

Rear-Admiral (RADM) Lui Tuck Yew relinquish his appointment as Chief of Navy on 1 Apr 2003, and that Rear-Admiral (RADM) Ronnie Tay, currently Chief of Staff and concurrently Head Naval Operations Department, be appointed Chief of Navy with effect from 1 Apr 2003.The Prime Minister made these recommendations to the President following consultation with the Armed Forces Council.

The changes are part of the continuing process of leadership renewal and to release talented SAF officers to serve in other positions in the public and private sectors. LG Lim Chuan Poh and RADM Lui Tuck Yew will both return to the Administrative Service after attending the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University.

Since his enlistment in 1979, LG Lim Chuan Poh has served the SAF with distinction. He was awarded the SAF Overseas Scholarship in 1980. He made significant contributions in developing the Army’s combat capability especially in the areas of command and control, mobility and firepower before his appointment as Chief of Defence Force on 1 Apr 2000. As Chief of Defence Force, LG Lim has positioned the SAF to meet the challenges in the 21st century. He strengthened the SAF’s ability to harness leading-edge technology for the development of the SAF’s capability. He has significantly improved the SAF’s operational readiness and widened the ties between SAF and other armed forces around the world.

Enlisted in 1979, RADM Lui Tuck Yew was awarded the SAF Overseas Scholarship in 1980. He has served the SAF with distinction. As Chief of Navy, RADM Lui has provided strong leadership and direction. He successfully guided the development of the submarine capability in the Navy thereby contributing a significant addition to the overall SAF’s operational readiness and combat capabilities. He has also steered the Navy to achieve the larger goals of MINDEF’s defence diplomacy.

The incoming Chief of Defence Force, MG Ng Yat Chung, aged 41, joined the SAF in Dec 1979 and was awarded the SAF Overseas Scholarship in 1980. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) (Engineering TRIPOS) Degree, a Master of Arts (Mathematics) Degree, both from the University of Cambridge, UK, as well as an MBA (Business Administration) from Stanford University, USA. In the course of his military career, he has held, amongst others, the appointments of Commanding Officer, 21st Battalion Singapore Artillery; Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Plans); Commander, 3rd Singapore Infantry Brigade; Head Joint Operations Department; Commander, 3rd Division; Director Joint Operations and Planning Directorate and Chief of Staff (Joint Staff).

The incoming Chief of Army, BG Desmond Kuek Bak Chye, aged 39, joined the SAF in 1981 and was awarded the SAF Overseas Scholarship in 1982. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) (Engineering Science) Degree, a Master of Arts (Engineering Science) Degree, both from the University of Oxford, UK, as well as a Master of Public Administration (Macro Economics, Statistics) from Harvard University, USA. In the course of his military career, he has held amongst others, the appointments of Commanding Officer, 41st Battalion Singapore Armoured Regiment; Commander, 4th Singapore Armoured Brigade; Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Operations) and Commander, 3rd Division.

The incoming Chief of Navy, RADM Ronnie Tay, aged 39, joined the SAF in 1981 and was awarded the SAF Overseas Scholarship in 1982. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) (Engineering Science) from the University of Oxford, UK, as well as a Master of Science (Management) from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. In the course of his military career, he has held amongst others, the appointments of Commanding Officer, RSS Sea Lion; Commander, 188th Squadron; Commander, 1st Flotilla; Head Naval Intelligence Department and Fleet Commander.

The Ministry of Defence wishes to express its deep appreciation to LG Lim Chuan Poh and RADM Lui Tuck Yew for their sterling service and outstanding contributions to the development of the Singapore Armed Forces.